Archive for the ‘Mirin’ Category

As a general rule I always take notes when drinking sake in a Restaurant or bar in Shizuoka Prefecture (and very often elsewhere!) as some of the same sake are impossible to find elsewhere because they are brewed on order.
I found this particular one at Uogashi Sushi restaurant inside the ASTY Mall in Shizuoka City JR Station!

It is a sake just called “Karakuchi/Dry” by Fuji-Takasago in Fujinomiya City/
There are no indications as toward its status although I suspect it is a honjozo.
It certainly tasted better than expected proving once again the high quality of Shizuoka sake in general!

Alcohol: 14~15 degrees
Bottled in September 2014

Clarity: very clear
Color: almost transparent
Aroma: assertive. Dry and fruity. Pears.
Body: fluid
Taste: Dry and fruity attack.
More complex than expected. Pears, almonds, apricots, coffee beans.
Lingers on for a little while before departing on s drier note.
varies little with food but for a sweeter turn although it will quickly reassess itself to an even drier note.

Overall: very solid and reliable dry sake.
Superb choice for sushi, considering its very reasonable price.
To e enjoyed with izakaya heavy fare, sushi and BBQ!

Clarity: Very clear
Color: faint golden hue
Aroma: Fruity: banana, melon, dark chocolate
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Very dry and fruity attack backed with strong and pleasant alcohol.
Deceptively dry in spite of its great fruitiness.
Elegant in spite of its high alcohol contents.
Complex: custard, melon, banana, almonds, with late appearance of milk coffee.
Disappears fairly quickly.
Dark chocolate making a strong appearance with later sips.
marries well with food with little variation.

Overall: Heady, complex, elegant sake for the strong sake lovers.
Can be thoroughly enjoyed at any temperatures although I would recommend to start it chilled and let it warm up to discover more facets on the way.
A dangerous sake as its alcohol contents are pretty high but will hit you after a while!
Probably best enjoyed chilled as a night cap but I won’t take any responsibility! LOL

This is the very first time I felt compelled to write a tasting report on a mirin (cooking sweet sake)!
But Atsukayama brewed by Sugii Brewery in Fujieda City has nothing in common with even the best mirin used in Japanese cooking!
I recently used it for making umeshu with plenty of it and shochu distilled by the same brewery, with the diffrence I didn’t have to use any sugar!
Mind you, it is pretty famous all over the country and not easy to obtain but I can assure you this is a must if you want to enjoy a sweet drink away from the beaten tracks at your next repast!

Clarity: Very clear
Color: Rich golden
Aroma: Strong and assertive. Fruity. Oranges, loquats, almonds, honey.
Body: Fluid, slightly sirupy
Taste: Very sweet attack backed up with junmai petillant.
Complex and fruity. Apricots, plums, nuts, honey.
Disappears more quickly than expected on a surprisingly drier note with hints of nuts and almonds.
Especially enjoyable at all temperatures.
For all its sweetness drinks more like a mellow sweet sake or a liquorish white wine with such an incredible complexity.

Overall: A mirin for cooking? That would be extremely extravagant unless you use it on its own to accentuate a dish.
A rare “dish ingredient” that should be ignored as such and drunk on its own at a temperature of your liking as an aperitif, a digestif or as a night cap.
Chilled, it reveals itself as a superb nectar. Would do marvelously well in cocktails, too.
You must sample it with blue cheese!